Ribbon de-reeler

ABSTRACT

A reel of ribbon-like material disposed on a turntable is unwound by pulling the ribbon in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the turntable. The unwound ribbon passes through a sensor which prevents the ribbon from twisting as it is being unwound. The sensor includes a rotatable disc spaced above the turntable and having an opening through which the ribbon is pulled in response to a demand from an external system, such as a machine for applying tie-strips to packages or the like. The disc rotates between two fixed positions to close and open a switch for actuating and de-actuating an electrical circuit coupled to a motor which drives the turntable. When the ribbon is being pulled, it rotates the disc to a position which closes the switch to continuously drive the turntable at the rate at which the ribbon is being unwound to continuously reduce the twist in the unwound ribbon. When the ribbon demand stop, a biasing spring rotates the disc through a short distance to reduce the twist present in the unwound ribbon at the instant the demand stopped. The disc stops in a position which opens the switch to stop the turntable rotation.

United States Patent 1 Johnson et a1. g

[ RIBBON DE-REELER [75] Inventors: John R. Johnson, Arcadia; Robert W.Taylor, Mission Viejo, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Royal Industries, Inc., Pasadina,

' Calif.

[22] Filed: July 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,135

Primary Examiner-.1ohn W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & Hale [4 1 Apr. 23, 1974 [5 7ABSTRACT A reel of ribbon-like material disposed on a turntable isunwound by pulling the ribbon in a direction perpendicular to the planeof the turntable. The unwound ribbon passes through a sensor whichprevents the ribbon from twisting as it is being unwound. The sensorincludes a rotatable disc spaced above the turntable anzl having anopening through which the ribbon is pulled in response to a demand froman external system, such as a machine for applying tie-strips topackages or the like. The disc rotates between two fixed positions toclose and open a switch for actuating and de-actuating an electricalcircuit coupled to a motor which drives the turntable. When the ribbonis being pulled, it rotates the disc to a position which closes theswitch to continuously drive the turntable at the rate at which theribbon is being unwound to continuously reduce the twist in the unwoundribbon. When the ribbon demand stop, a biasing spring rotates the discthrough a short distance to reduce the twist present in the unwoundribbon at the instant the demand stopped. The disc stops in a positionwhich opens the switch to stop the turntable rotation.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures I un RIBBON DE-REELER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a system for unwinding a reel ofribbon-like material, such as tie-strip ribbon.

Tie-strips generally comprise wire reinforced ribbons .of plastic orpaper which can be twisted to form a tie.

Tie-strip ribbon is reinforced by a narrow gauge, low carbon steel wirewhich provides sufficient reinforcement, but is thin and ductile enoughto allow the ribbon to be twisted easily.

A major use of tie-strip ribbon is in the tying of packages for foodproducts such as bakery goods, produce, and meat products. The packagedproduct generally is fed to a tying machine which alternately unwinds asection of tie-strip ribbon from a large spool, splices the ribbon, andtwists the ribbon around the package to form a tie.

The tying machine usually includes a de-reeler which assists inunwinding the tie-strip ribbon from the large spool. Some prior artde-reelers comprise turntables on which the large spool of ribbon ismounted. The ribbon is pulled from the spool at a right angle to itsvertical axis of rotation. These de-reelers generally are used to unwindmetal strip material which is stiff enough to cause the turntable torotate without damaging the strip. They are not used for unwindingtie-strip ribbon, because the large inertia of the tie-strip wrappingand the spool will break the ribbon each time the ribbon is pulled fromthe reel during the demand cycle of the tying machine.

Prior art de-reelers for tie-strip ribbon include a powered spindlewhich drives a spool of ribbon; The ribbon is pulled from the spool at aright angle to the spindle axis of rotation. The powered spindle isarranged such that the demand for ribbon is made by a pull whichactuates a take-up arm having a motion used to control the spindledrivemotor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is based on the recognition thatprior art de-reelers have the disadvantage of being limitedsubstantially by the weight of the ribbon and spool.

cause the ribbon to jam tight during unreeling as the ribbon is beingpulled straight off the spool. A jammed or broken ribbon stalls tyingoperations and causes time-consumingand costly shutdowns. Lighter weightspools can be used, but tying operations are then interrupted more oftento replace the empty spool. However, lighter spools still do not alwaysalleviate the jamming problem caused by inadvertent cross-overs in thespooling operation.

This invention provides a system for unwinding a reel of ribbon-likematerial, in which the ribbon is unwound by pulling it off the reel in adirection substantially parallel to the winding axis of the reel. Ribbonunwound in this way does not oppose the inertia of the body of woundribbon. Accordingly, relatively large wrappings of ribbon, say 3,000feet of ribbon weighing several thousand pounds, can be used to supply atying machine, without causing work stoppages due to breakage of theribbon. Moreover, cross-overs inadvertently made during windingoperations are not likely to jam tight during de-reeling operations,since the force applied to unwind the ribbon is relatively small whencompared with the pulling force required for prior art de-reelingmachines.

Briefly, the ribbon de-reeling system includes a movable sensor havingan opening through which unwound ribbon is pulled from a wrapping inresponse to a demand from an external system, such as a tying machine.The sensor is adapted to be moved to a first position in response to thepassage of ribbon through the opening. Drive means spaced from thesensor rotates the wrapping of ribbon, and switch means coupled to thedrive means have actuated and de-actuated positions for controllingmovement of the sensor. When the sensor is in its first position, theswitch means applies an electrical signal to the drive means tocontinuously rotate the wrapping of ribbon whenever the ribbon is beingpulled by the external system through the opening in the sensor. Thus,the twist existing in the ribbon between the wrapping and the sensor iscontinuously reduced by the drive means.

In a preferred form of the invention, means responsive to stoppage ofthe ribbon being pulled through the Thus, a relatively small pullingforce is required to unwind a relatively large wrapping of ribbon, andthe twist which exists in the ribbon as it is being unwound iscontinuously reduced, so that the ribbon does not jam the de-reeler orthe external system demanding the ribbon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other aspects of theinvention will be more fully understood by referring to the followingdetailed;

description and the accompanying drawing in which: FIG. 1 is anelevation view illustrating the ribbon dereeler embodying the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan elevation view taken on line 22'of FIG. 1 andillustrating the de-reeler in the de-reeling operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, aribbon de-reeling machine 10 includes a horizontally disposed turntable12 for mounting a reel 14 of ribbon-like material 16, such as tie-stripribbon. The ribbon preferably is coiled around a vertically extendingspindle (not shown) or the like. Preferably, the de-reeling machine isnot used to unwind ribbon wrapped around spools or similar articleshaving flanged ends which would overlie a horizontally extending uppersurface 18 of the coiled ribbon. Thus, ribbon 16 can be unwound fromreel 14 by applying a relatively small upward force in a directionsubstantially parallel to theaxis around which the, ribbon is wound. I

The de-reeling machine is preferably used in conjunction with anexternal system having a cyclical demand for the ribbon. For example,such a system can be a tying machine which alternately unwinds a shortlength of the ribbon, stops the unwinding operation, splices the ribbon,twists the ribbon to form a tie, and then unwinds the ribbon for thenext tying cycle. During unwinding operations, the ribbon is reeved overa pair of longitudinally spaced apart guide rolls 20 mounted on ahorizontally disposed support arm 22 overhanging the turntable andribbon reel.

The turntable is mounted inside a rectangular framework which includes apair of laterally spaced apart side posts 24 for supporting a horizontalsupport platform 26 disposed over the turntable and ribbon reel. Supportplatform 26-supports a sensor 28 disposed over an opening 30 in theplatform. Ribbon is drawn through the sensor and opening 30 prior tobeing reeved over the guide rolls 20. The detailed construction andoperation of sensor 28 is described below.

As the ribbon is being unwound from the reel, a spiral twist is formedin the unwound ribbon between the reel and sensor 28. As the ribbon isbeing unwound, the turntable is rotated by a conventional electricaldrive motor 32 at a rate whichfollows the ribbon demand so asto'continuou sly reduce the twist in the unwound ribbon. If theturntable is-not rotated as the ribbon is being unwound, the ribbon willalmost immediately bind and will then jam either sensor 28 or theexternal system demanding it. Sensor 28 controls unwinding of the ribbonto continuously reduce the twist formed in the ribbon as it is beingunwound by the external system. As shown best in FIG. 2, the sensorincludes a rotatable disc 34 journaled for rotation in an anti-frictionball-bearing 36, which. inturn is mounted on a base 38. An elongatedsleeve 40 having a narrow, substantially rectangular opening through itis aligned with a matching opening (not shown) in the center of thedisc, and is rigidly secured to the disc to rotate with it. Anexternally threaded, elongated shaft 42 having acentral bore is rigidlysecured to the disc so as to encompass sleeve 40. A nut 44 is threadedonto the end of shaft 42 to hold the disc in place on base 38. 7

An elongated stop arm 46, which is preferably made of strip metal,.isreleasably secured to base 38 by a screw 48 extending through anelongated slotted opening 50 in one end of the arm. An elongated arcuatev opening 52 extends through the free end portion of the stop arm andencompasses a post 54 rigidly secured adjacent to the periphery of thedisc. Opening 52 and post 54 limit rotational travel of the disc to anarc of about The releasable attachment of stop arm 46 to the baseprovides a position adjustment for the are through which the disctravels.

In use, ribbon unwound from the reel is passed through the opening insleeve 40, through its matching opening in the disc, and through opening30 in platform 26. When. the external system pulls the ribbon, the

force of the ribbon passing through sleeve 40 causes the disc to rotatein a clockwise direction to the position shown-in FIG. 2, with post 54being held at the far right-hand edge of opening 52 to limit furthertravel of the disc. As long as ribbon is being pulled through theopening of the sensor, the disc remains in the position shown in FIG. 2.

A hollow, open-ended, frusto-conical guide 56 is mounted on theturntable over the reel with its small opening adjacent the sensor. Thesmall opening in the guide confines the ribbon loops between the reeland the sensor so that they do not foul each other as the ribbon isbeing unwound.

The turntable motor is operated by an electrical control circuit(represented schematically at'57) which includes a conventional reedswitch 58 mounted on base 38 adjacent the outer periphery of the discand operated by a permanent magnet 60. Permanent magnet 60 is carried onthe bottom side of the disc adjacent its outer periphery. Permanentmagnet 60 is positioned so it is remote from the reed switch when ribbonis being pulled through the sensor opening as illustrated in FIG. 2.During a period of ribbon demand, when the disc is held in the positionshown in FIG. 2, the reed switch contacts are closed, and the electricalcircuit supplies power to drive motor 32 to rotate turntable 12 toreduce the twist formed in the unwound ribbon 16.

A torsion spring 62 is attached at one end to nut 44 and is wound aroundthe nut and then attached at its opposite end to a block 64 on base 38.In use, when the demand for ribbon stops, the tension in the ribbon isreleased immediately, and the spring rotates disc 34 in the direction ofthe arrow 66 shown in FIG. 2. The disc rotates until post 54 strikes theopposite edge of opening 52, and the disc is then-held in this positionas long as no pull on the ribbon is produced by-the external-system.counterclockwise rotation of the disc to the opposite end of opening 52causes permanent magnet 60 to rotate over reed switch 58, where themagnetic field of the magnet opens the switch and cuts off power todrive motor 32. The drive motor 32 is normally maintained de-energizeduntil the ribbon demand is again called for so as tooperatethe reedswitch 58. The rotation of the disc through the approximately 15 areeliminates the twist present in the ribbon at the instant the ribbondemand stopped. The permanent magnet operates the reed switch to stopthe turntable at the instant thetwist is eliminated, so that no twist ispresent-at the beginning of the next cycle.

The 15 arc is shown by way of example only. The length of the arc can bevaried to correspond to the amount of twist in .the ribbon, or thedistance between the reel and the sensor, so that twisting of the ribbonis prevented as it is. being unwound by the external system.Alternatively, other parameters, such as the speed of the turntable, orthe position of arcuate opening 52 relative to the disc, can be adjustedto correspond to the amount of twist in the ribbon or the distancebetween the reel and the sensor.

Since a relatively small amount of force is required to unwind theribbon, large reels, say 3,000 feet of ribbon weighing up to 30,000pounds, can be unwound with substantially no shutdowns caused bycross-overs in the ribbon or breakage. A poor spoo'ling job is not aslikely to cause jamming or breaking during unwinding, as when tie-stripribbon is pulled' directly off a spool. Moreover, a spool is notrequired for holding the ribbon during unwinding. The ribbon can bewound on a mandrel and then wrapped to hold it ready to place on theturntable. y

We claim:

1. Apparatus foruse in unwinding a wrapping of ribbon-like materialcomprising a sensor having an opening through which ribbon unwound fromthe wrapping is pulled in response to a demand from an external system,the sensor being movable to a preselected position in'response to theribbon being pulled through said opening by the external system, drivemeans spaced from the sensor and operable for rotating the wrapping ofribbon, the ribbon drive means being positioned relative to the sensorto provide substantially unobstructed passage of the ribbon through theopening in the sensor when ribbon is being unwound on demand from theexternal system, and electrical circuit means including switch meanscoupled to the ribbon drive means and having an actuated positioncontrolled by movement of the sensor for energizing the ribbon drivemeans, the sensor being movable to actuate the switch means when thesensor is movedto said preselected position toapply an electrical signalto the ribbon drive means to continuously rotate the wrapping of ribbonwhen the ribbon is being pulled by the external system through theopening in the sensor, whereby the twist existing in the ribbon betweenthe wrappingand the sensor is continuously reduced by the drive means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sensor is movable betweensaid preselected position and a second position, and including meansresponsive to stoppage of the ribbon being pulled through the opening inthe sensor by the external system for moving the sensor to the secondposition to thereby reduce the twist existing in the ribbon between thewrapping and the sensor at the time the ribbon demand is stopped, theswitch means being put in a deaetuated position in response to movementof the sensor to the second position to de-energize the ribbon drivemeans to cut off the electrical signal to the drive means andstopmovement of the drive means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in'which the ribbon drive means is aturntable for supporting the wrapping of ribbon, and including means forpulling the ribbon from the wrapping through the opening in the sensoralong an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the turntable.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including an openended, frusto-conicalguide having a hollow interior to allow the guide to be mounted on theturntable over the wrapping in the space between the turntable and thesensor, the guide being mounted so that the opening at its smaller endis adjacent to the sensor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sensor is a rotatablemember and said opening comprises a narrow elongated passage extendingthrough the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to receive theunwound ribbon, the passage being positioned with respect to the ribbondrive means to allow tension applied to the ribbon when the ribbon isbeingpulled through the passage to rotate the rotatable member to saidpreselected position and hold the member in its preselected position aslong as tension is being applied to the ribbon.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the sensor is a rotatablemember and said opening comprises a narrow elongated passage extendingthrough the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to receive theunwound ribbon, the passage being positioned with respect to the ribbondrive means to allow tension applied to the ribbon when the ribbon isbeing pulled through the passage to rotatethe rotatable member to saidpreselected position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the means for moving therotatable member to its second position includes biasing means coupledto the rotatable member for urging the member to rotate to its secondposition when the tension on the ribbon being pulled through the passageis released and hold the member in its preselected position as long astension is being applied to the ribbon.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the sensor is a rotatabledisc, and including stop means disposed adjacent to the disc at twospaced apart locations to limit rotation of the disc between said twopositions.

9. Apparatus according to claim' 8 including means for adjusting theposition of the stop means relative to the disc.

10. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the sensor comprises arotatable disc carrying a switch actuating and deactuating device whichis movable by rotation of the disc into and out of contact with anelectrical switch disposed adjacent to the disc.

1. Apparatus for use in unwinding a wrapping of ribbon-like materialcomprising a sensor having an opening through which ribbon unwound fromthe wrapping is pulled in response to a demand from an external system,the sensor being movable to a preselected position in response to theribbon being pulled through said opening by the external system, drivemeans spaced from the sensor and operable for rotating the wrapping ofribbon, the ribbon drive means being positioned relative to the sensorto provide substantially unobstructed passage of the ribbon through theopening in the sensor when ribbon is being unwound on demand from theexternal system, and electrical circuit means including switch meanscoupled to the ribbon drive means and having an actuated positioncontrolled by movement of the sensor for energizing the ribbon drivemeans, the sensor being movable to actuate the switch means when thesensor is moved to said preselected position to apply an electricalsignal to the ribbon drive means to continuously rotate the wrapping ofribbon when the ribbon is being pulled by the external system throughthe opening in the sensor, wHereby the twist existing in the ribbonbetween the wrapping and the sensor is continuously reduced by the drivemeans.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sensor is movablebetween said preselected position and a second position, and includingmeans responsive to stoppage of the ribbon being pulled through theopening in the sensor by the external system for moving the sensor tothe second position to thereby reduce the twist existing in the ribbonbetween the wrapping and the sensor at the time the ribbon demand isstopped, the switch means being put in a deactuated position in responseto movement of the sensor to the second position to de-energize theribbon drive means to cut off the electrical signal to the drive meansand stop movement of the drive means.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1in which the ribbon drive means is a turntable for supporting thewrapping of ribbon, and including means for pulling the ribbon from thewrapping through the opening in the sensor along an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the turntable.
 4. Apparatus according toclaim 3 including an open-ended, frusto-conical guide having a hollowinterior to allow the guide to be mounted on the turntable over thewrapping in the space between the turntable and the sensor, the guidebeing mounted so that the opening at its smaller end is adjacent to thesensor.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sensor is arotatable member and said opening comprises a narrow elongated passageextending through the axis of rotation of the rotatable member toreceive the unwound ribbon, the passage being positioned with respect tothe ribbon drive means to allow tension applied to the ribbon when theribbon is being pulled through the passage to rotate the rotatablemember to said preselected position and hold the member in itspreselected position as long as tension is being applied to the ribbon.6. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the sensor is a rotatablemember and said opening comprises a narrow elongated passage extendingthrough the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to receive theunwound ribbon, the passage being positioned with respect to the ribbondrive means to allow tension applied to the ribbon when the ribbon isbeing pulled through the passage to rotate the rotatable member to saidpreselected position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which themeans for moving the rotatable member to its second position includesbiasing means coupled to the rotatable member for urging the member torotate to its second position when the tension on the ribbon beingpulled through the passage is released and hold the member in itspreselected position as long as tension is being applied to the ribbon.8. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the sensor is a rotatabledisc, and including stop means disposed adjacent to the disc at twospaced apart locations to limit rotation of the disc between said twopositions.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including means foradjusting the position of the stop means relative to the disc. 10.Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the sensor comprises a rotatabledisc carrying a switch actuating and deactuating device which is movableby rotation of the disc into and out of contact with an electricalswitch disposed adjacent to the disc.